Device and method for detecting in-vivo pathology

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for detecting in vivo pathology are provided. An in vivo sensing device comprises a reacting layer with at least one type of binding agent attached thereon, a sensor configured for sensing an optical change occurring on the reacting substrate, and at least one illumination source. In-vivo fluids are in constant contact with the reacting substrate so that in vivo marker indicating pathology may bind to the binding agent attached onto the reacting layer and may be viewed by the sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An in-vivo sensing device for detecting in-vivo pathology comprising:
 a device body enclosing:
 a reacting layer having at least one type of binding agent attached thereon; 
 a sensor configured to sense an optical change on said reacting layer; and 
 at least one illumination source configured to illuminate said reacting layer; 
 each of said sensor and illumination source facing in a forward direction towards said reacting layer such that rays from the illumination source impinge on the reacting layer and are then emitted to the sensor; 
 
 wherein the device body comprises at least two openings forward of the reacting layer to allow in vivo fluids to flow through said device body and over said reacting layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical change is selected from the group consisting of: a change of color, a change of hue, a change of brightness, a change of optical density, a change of transparency, a change of light scattering, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a white LED. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one illumination source comprises a monochromatic illumination source. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising more than one illumination source, wherein each of the more than one illumination source has a different illumination spectra. 
     
     
       6. The in-vivo sensing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said reacting layer includes a substance selected from the group consisting of: silicon, glass, and plastic. 
     
     
       7. The in-vivo sensing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said reacting layer is positioned at an end of the device body, perpendicular to the forward sensing direction. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said openings are shaped so as to induce continuous flow of fluids in and out of the device body. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device body comprises a reference background positioned over said reacting layer. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said reference background comprises a mirror. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein said openings allow in vivo fluids to flow through and beneath said reference background. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises an array of light sensitive elements having differing spectrum sensitivities. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is a swallowable capsule. 
     
     
       14. A method for detecting in vivo pathology comprising the steps of:
 administering an in vivo sensing device comprising a sensor, an illumination source, a reacting layer and a background, each of said sensor and illumination source facing in a forward direction towards said reacting layer; 
 contacting the reacting layer having at least one type of binding agent attached thereon with a flow of endo-luminal content forward of the reacting layer; 
 illuminating the reacting layer upon the background; and 
 sensing an optical change occurring due to binding of the binding agent to a marker in vivo. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , where said in-vivo marker is excreted from an in-vivo lumen into in-vivo fluids flowing inside a lumen. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising administering to a patient a binding agent with a tag, wherein said tagged binding agent has an affinity for the marker when it is bound to the binding agent. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said tag is selected from the group consisting of gold particles, beads, nano-containers, and fluorescence emitting molecules.